The summer of 1995 two teams with one mission Championship!

                                                                                 

                                                                

      One decision leads to choose sports of school!

     It was early 1995 and I was 24 years old in my last year of a four year co-op business administration program at Centennial college in Scarborough, Ont. 

   I was excited to graduate and go on to my next chapter of my life. It was during this time I made a decision that at the time seemed as an easy one, play ball hockey for the summer!  I participated  in many sports in my early 20's baseball,  basketball and tennis to name a few.

 So I signed up to play for two ball hockey teams in two different divisions playing a Rinx (Dufferin and Orfus area)  

  This is a story of success and few failures (lessons) along the way.

The NY Chiefs Season 

 Team 1was the NY Chiefs a group of very talent player that I had been playing with for a few years, it wasn't easy to convince co- captains Nelson and Jorge that I should play for them. I wasn't in the beat of shape at the time yet I had amazing ball handling skills and great shot!  

                                                                     Not in the best shape

  In the end I was in and and would mostly play on the fourth line meaning very little playing time during games, mostly if we were winning by more than 2 or more goals. I was okay with it and was always ready to go!

                                                                            Thunderbolt & Lighting

    Fernando was massing guy who also had a great game and I was little smaller than him so the Thunderbolt & Lightning line was created!   When we were on the floor literally the floor shook! 

   Team 2  was the Screaming Eagles the complete opposite of the NY Chiefs a collection of players of various talents from  good, bad to ugly!

   Being on this team was certainly going to be a huge challenge!  The season previous we were called the Aruba Tigers (see jersey below) so we had a few returning players and we renamed ourselves the Screaming Eagles, our jersey was that of the Washington Capitals (see below)

              

                                                                                 The seasons begin!

   I remember walking in for a first game of the season with the NY Chiefs and  convenor  Jeff says " You guys are going to win it all!"  I was happy mostly and little bit dismayed that the rest of the teams had no chance!

  Meanwhile Jeff made no such comment regarding the Screaming Eagles chances.

                                                                           The undefeated season in peril

  It was mid- season with the NY Chiefs and we were on a role! we were 6 wins and no losses and in the current game we were playing in late May were in a 1-1 going into the 3rd period

  I remember sitting at the end of the bench with Fernando chatting away and encouraging our fellow teammate when we heard Jorge say " Thurnderbolt and Lighting you are on next do what you do and get us one!"  

  I was shocked and looked at Fernando and said "Does he mean score a goal or just forecheck and be useful!"  Fernando turns around and says 'No Jim let's make it happen I will clear the way and you shoot and hit the net!"

                                                                             I ended up in the net!

  We hope over and literally everyone stood up the oppose team, people in the stands intently watching us play the sport we love with so much focus.

  All I remember was I was playing center  and was going to the net hoping to tip or knock in a loose ball into the net!

     Next thing you know I am running in and get in the zone, Fernando just shoot the ball in front of the next and honestly didn't even feel that I tipped the ball in the net, because I was ended up physically in the net!

                                                                                       We win the game!!!

     It liked forever to extract myself from the opposing net as opposing players were giving me some extra physical punishment.

  Eventually I make it to the bench and all my teammate were congratulating me on a well deserved winning goal. Fernando was super happy for me as I had scored the goal. I said to Fernando " just like you told me the only thing you forgot was all the hits I took!"

                                                                                        

                                                                                   Medal for 1st star

     We were all in the dressing room and Jeff walks in with a small medal (see below) and gives to me saying " Great goal Jim!'  I responded "Thanks Jeff!"

The season continued and we finished first with undefeated record with 14 wins and no losses and 1 tie

 We made it all the way to the finals and won the trophy (see below)

The Screaming Eagles season 

   The screaming eagles team was an assortment of players of varied skills and it was going to take lots of practice and patience to make it successful season.

  Rob Nicolic and I were co- captains and we truly believed we could make the playoffs and then see what happens!

  The season  began and we played  very poorly and we knew something had to done.  The only thing we could do was hold practices and have the players work on their game.

  As the season continued we began to play better and win some games. Instead of our opponent thinking they had a easy win they actually had to play hard to beat us!

   We made the playoffs we celebrated in the dressing room as if we had won the Stanley Cup!!!

                                                             The Playoffs and the determination

     To this day I don't even remember how we did it. It pure focus and determination that we could do it as a TEAM.

  In the coming weeks get through two round and into the FINALS!

   We would get to the rink and everyone would be excited and focus for the game.

  In the end we end up losing and get a secondary trophy (see below)

                                                                          Failures (Lessons)

    Remember earlier I mentions that it my last year of college.  Well during the final playing for the Screaming Eagles I had a final exam for Organizational Behaviour that I didn't pass because made the choice to play the rather than study the exams

  Ended up taking that course and few others in night school and getting all A's!

                                                                      Moral of this story 

      I did what I love and look at the trophies and medal all the time and truly remember the summer of 95 was a special and memorable in so many ways!

 

  

                                                                             

      

  

 

                                                                   

Ball hockey at East York Community Centre: January 2018

    Sunday January 13th

    Where : East York Community Centre at 6:00pm-8:00pm

     Team Black vs Team White

     Team black wins all three games, 10-9, 10-6, 9-5


                 

Team white with ball

Team white with ball in the corner

Special Post: 3 Trophies and 1 Pendant that have special meaning

             The Summer of 95 so long ago, yet remembered so vividly

            I played for 2 ball hockey teams at the same time and got to the finals with both!

             Chiefs were an extremely talent team that made me a better player, Aruba Tiger were bunch of guys who worked together to become a team and make it special time of all us to make it to the finals!
     
                   Winners mindest!

3 trophis with 2 difference ball hockey teams in Summer 95

Pendant for 1st star at YCBHl 95 scoring tying goal for undefeated season wtih Chiefs

                                                         

Journey of playing ball hockey with 2 teams in the Summer of 1995

        It was crazy summer of 1995 I made decision to play with 2 ball hockey teams at the same time in 4months.

       1st team was very skilled and talented team, went undefeated 13-00-1. The tie was in part to a goal I scored, thus earning pendant as you see below

      2nd team as very bad team that had a big heart! we went to finals and lost!


   Casualty of all this is I had failed an Organizational Behaviour course that I had retake in night school, which I got an A

          Moral of the journey. Be careful on the decision you make,there are winner and there a lessons!                

1st one star pendant

                                   





                                       

3 Tropies won

3 Trophies it was a memorable 4 weeks!

 It was 4 week to remember!  Below is the story of the meaning of these 3 trophies.

In the early 90's I had started playing competitive ball-hockey and really enjoyed it. It was great opportunity to play the sport I enjoy and playing with some amazing players was really an amazing experience.

In the fall 1995 I had joined two teams in September. The "Aruba Tigers" and "North York Chiefs"

Aruba Tigers was a tier 4 teams of individuals the league had put together ) to this day I still play with a few of them during the summer!)

North York Chiefs consisted of  few school friends and other players recruited by the captain Jorge Da Silva.
This team was all a all-star calibre. There was Nelson Paiva, Jorge Da Silva, Jody McCappin, Helder Paiva, Chris Wooltran, Peter Frietas.

The Ontario Ball Hockey Association was very concerned having us play in a lower tier, but in the end they allowed us to stay.

As the season started I had games once a week with both teams which was manageable at the beginning. I was attending Centennial College take a General Business Diploma 3yr Co-op program. The games were in the evening and weekend so it didn't affect my schedule.

It became very  interesting at the end of the season when both Aruba Tigers and North York Chiefs both made the playoffs! I was elated in the beginning and by the end I was exhausted and elated. (keep reading)

Aruba Tigers we had a interesting group of players from beginners and season veterans. The biggest challenge we had was players didn't show up, this was rampant in ball-hockey. We each paid money to join and in the end they wouldn't show up for games. It was disappointing and tough playing with hardly any substitutes.

The key lesson I learned from the Aruba Tigers was determination, resilience to win. Even though we just barely made the playoffs we had a group of players who wanted to win, and we did on a few nights and the rest were character building nights.

There were great moment prior to games and during practices where players came up to me asking for insights on shooting and scoring. Scott Gallagher was a fellow team mate you had ask about getting better at  his "wrist shot", I show him a few tips which he appreciated. That same day he scored a "goal" and he came a gave me a hug and game me the hockey ball!

The North York Chiefs we had an amazing season. We went the entire season without losing a game and tying one*.  We had a team of all-star players who new how to play the game as team and were simply able to dominate the teams.  We had 3 strong forward lines and defence that was unmatched by any team. Our passing and the ability to play a strategic and effective game was a sight to see.

As the season ended my worst fears had happened, both teams had made the playoffs!  At that time I was also headed into examination time at Centennial College and there were some tough decisions to be made as the days went on.

 I literally played 3 hockey games a week for 3 weeks. It was fun and exhausting at the same time.

 With the Aruba Tigers we ended up going to the finals and losing. We still got a trophy for finishing in second. The memory I will not forget was the opposing teams appreciation on our determination to win. Memorable quote " you guys through everything at us but the kitchen sink".

The North York Chiefs we went all the way to the finals and won. The last series we had was a huge challenge for us as a team. We played a very tough team and played very aggresive and high tempo hockey. We beat them 2 games to 1 to win the championship. Last game was full of fights and penalties, in the end the dust settled and we claimed our two trophies.

*(This game was very special for me because I scored the tying goal in overtime and got the 1st star!)

The only casualty is I did fail (Organization Behaviour) I later took in night school and got an "A" 



Moral of the story: We are on journey to success no matter what you do play your best and you will receive accolades in many ways from trophies, certificates and even money.

Wayne Gretzky story

Six Degrees of separation is shorter than you think!

In the mid 90's I worked as a shipper/receiver in the retail store in the west end of the city. We dealt with many various courier companies throughout the day.

We had driver Bill Cornish who worked for UPS and he was very funny guy who we looked forward to dealing with on a daily basis. We talk about lots of topics but one day we were talking about hockey and he mentioned the Wayne Gretzky stayed with for few years when he was in juniors. We were like " I know Bill Clinton!" He didn't say a word in response.(smart guy)

The next day he brought us pictures with him and Wayne Gretzky!  (We apologized quickly)

He told us so many great stories of  things that Wayne did for Bill and his family. Sending them on trips to Atlanta (Olympics) and much more. Wayne Gretzky treated everyone for friends and family with respect and dignity and never forgot his roots.

Few years later I was watch a Hall of Fame induction on TV and Wayne Gretzky as making a speech at the end he thank the Cornish family for the support. (it was nice to hear)

In recent years have met Wayne's dad Walter Gretzky at Pearson international airport and other events.

Moral of the story:  Six Degrees of separation is shorter than you may think, the next connection you make may be interesting one!

Hockey afternoon in Toronto

It was great afternoon to play ball hockey with a few friends enjoy the great weather and have some fun.

Was great to play with Drew, Nathan, Marlan, Keith, Glenn and AL  in spirited game of hockey.

Funniest line said was "damn I stepped on a rock and lost my balance".
 

                                           Jim Pagiamtzis proud Maple Leafs fan @jimspagiamtzis

Click below to see a goal!
http://youtu.be/3Tn7a5LZhy0